Formation of North Pacific Intermediate Water in Meteorological Research Institute ocean general circulation model: 1. Subgrid-scale mixing and marginal sea fresh water

1998 ◽  
Vol 103 (C13) ◽  
pp. 30885-30903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goro Yamanaka ◽  
Yoshiteru Kitamura ◽  
Masahiro Endoh
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Ocean General Circulation Model ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Subgrid Scale ◽  
North Pacific Intermediate Water ◽  
Meteorological Research Institute ◽  
Marginal Sea ◽  
Ocean General Circulation

scholarly journals <sup>137</sup>Cs off Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japan – model based estimates of dilution and fate

Ocean Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dietze ◽  
I. Kriest
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Ocean General Circulation Model ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
North Pacific Intermediate Water ◽  
Plant Operator

Abstract. In the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 radioactive 137Cs was discharged from a damaged nuclear power plant to the sea off Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japan. Here we explore its dilution and fate with a state-of-the-art global ocean general circulation model, which is eddy-resolving in the region of interest. We find apparent consistency between our simulated circulation, estimates of 137Cs discharged ranging from 0.94 p Bq (Japanese Government, 2011) to 3.5 ± 0.7 p Bq (Tsumune et al., 2012), and measurements by Japanese authorities and the power plant operator. In contrast, our simulations are apparently inconsistent with the high 27 ± 15 p Bq discharge estimate of Bailly du Bois et al. (2012). Expressed in terms of a diffusivity we diagnose, from our simulations, an initial dilution on the shelf of 60 to 100 m2 s−1. The cross-shelf diffusivity is at 500 ± 300 m2 s−1 significantly higher and variable in time as indicated by its uncertainty. Expressed as an effective residence time of surface water on the shelf, the latter estimate transfers to 43 ± 16 days. As regards the fate of 137Cs, our simulations suggest that activities up to 4 mBq l−1 prevail in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Interfrontal Zone one year after the accident. This allows for low but detectable 0.1 to 0.3 m Bq l−1 entering the North Pacific Intermediate Water before the 137Cs signal is flushed away. The latter estimates concern the direct release to the sea only.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of the Simulated Distributions of Water Masses, CFCs, and Bomb 14C to Parameterizations of Mesoscale Tracer Transports in a Model of the North Pacific

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongfu Xu ◽  
Shigeaki Aoki ◽  
Koh Harada
Keyword(s):  
North Pacific ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
Western North Pacific ◽  
North Pacific Ocean ◽  
Circulation Model ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
North Pacific Intermediate Water ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Pacific

Abstract A basinwide ocean general circulation model of the North Pacific Ocean is used to study the sensitivity of the simulated distributions of water masses, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and bomb carbon-14 isotope (14C) to parameterizations of mesoscale tracer transports. Five simulations are conducted, including a run with the traditional horizontal mixing scheme and four runs with the isopycnal transport parameterization of Gent and McWilliams (GM). The four GM runs use different values of isopycnal and skew diffusivities. Simulated results show that the GM mixing scheme can help to form North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW). Greater isopycnal diffusivity enhances formation of NPIW. Although greater skew diffusivity can also generate NPIW, it makes the subsurface too fresh. Results from simulations of CFC uptake show that greater isopycnal diffusivity generates the best results relative to observations in the western North Pacific. The model generally underestimates the inventories of CFCs in the western North Pacific. The results from simulations of bomb 14C reproduce some observed features. Greater isopycnal diffusivity generates a longitudinal gradient of the inventory of bomb 14C from west to east, whereas greater skew diffusivity makes it reversed. It is considered that the ratio of isopycnal diffusivity to skew diffusivity is important. An increase in isopycnal diffusivity increases storage of passive tracers in the subtropical gyre.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document